Application of a stochastic modelling framework to characterize the influence of different oxide scales on the solid particle erosion behaviour of boiler grade steel

Abstract

An earlier developed stochastic model has been applied to describe the relative rate of material loss from the steel surface subjected to simultaneous action of high temperature oxidation involving multiple oxides and mechanical erosion. Different oxide scale growths, namely, nickel, iron and chromium have been treated deterministically and erosion is described using a literature based probabilistic framework. Oxidation is described with a power law (parabolic) approach to quantify the rate of growth of all the three oxide scales. In consonance with the published model, erosion is treated using a probabilistic methodology as spatially random phenomena on the oxide surface. The concept of 'erosion footprint' has been incorporated in the present model to characterize the erosion-induced damage on the steel surface. The model has been applied to predict the relative material loss as a function of time resulted from erosion-oxidation interaction pertaining to nickel, iron and chromium oxides in dimensionless form. This investigation is expected to provide a quantitative understanding of relative material loss due to solid particle erosion for oxide scales, (composed of multiple oxides) formed on the steel components of coal-fired boilers. © 2011 Indian Academy of Sciences.